Mistral API uses an account system that combines prepaid credit with usage-based billing: a plan includes some monthly usage, and after that you need a prepaid balance and usage-based billing enabled to keep calling. What actually trips up teams in mainland China is rarely "where do I click to top up" — it is payment currency, exchange rates, invoices, balance alerts, and refund boundaries.

This article separates two paths — topping up in the official Mistral backend and topping up through a domestic AI gateway — and compares invoices, exchange rates, refunds, and enterprise procurement considerations item by item. For specific prices, plan quotas, and settlement rules, refer to Mistral's official pages and our model pricing page.

Note: Mistral and Mistral AI are trademarks of their respective owners. This article uses public documentation from October 2026 as an example; plans, billing rules, and backend entry points may change, so refer to the current official pages before acting.

1. Two top-up paths at a glance

Dimension Mistral official ZSQH AI Gateway
Payment method Add a payment method in the official backend and buy prepaid credit Top up on the domestic gateway; payment options follow the checkout page
Settlement currency The pricing page switches between USD and EUR; invoice currency follows billing details RMB settlement; exchange rate and fees are shown on the checkout page
Account structure Organizations, workspaces, and member roles are managed separately Create a key after registering and allocate by project
Invoices Download PDF invoices from the backend; VAT number and billing address can be entered Apply under site rules; enterprises can confirm invoice types and requirements first
Best for Teams with an overseas payment method and a need for an official billing entity Domestic payment, consolidated multi-model billing, fewer cross-border operations

The two paths are not mutually exclusive. A common arrangement is to keep the official account for core business while domestic teams and test projects use the gateway, with one RMB bill reducing reimbursement and operations overhead. The key is to confirm the contracting entity, invoice type, and data-processing terms first, then decide where the funds sit.

2. Official top-up: from plans to prepaid credit

Mistral's Free, Pro, Education, Team, and Enterprise plans share one account system. The monthly usage included in a plan is shared across products such as Studio, API, and Vibe. Whether calls continue after it is used depends on whether usage-based billing is enabled and whether the balance is positive. The usual official backend sequence is:

  1. Sign in to Mistral AI Studio and confirm the current organization and billing role. Managing billing requires Admin or Billing permission.
  2. In the Admin Panel, open the Subscriptions page and check the current plan, seat count, and usage this month.
  3. On the Billing page, add the billing name, address, and VAT number; this information appears on later invoices.
  4. Add a payment method and purchase prepaid credit; gift codes can also be redeemed.
  5. To continue calling beyond the plan's included usage, enable usage-based billing and confirm the balance is sufficient.
  6. Consider enabling auto-recharge: when the balance falls below a threshold, charge automatically and top up to a set amount.

Official documentation notes that when the balance drops to 80 percent of the last top-up amount, Admin and Billing members receive an email; when the balance reaches zero, API requests beyond included usage may return HTTP 402. This state is not a model failure — topping up restores service. An organization-level monthly spending cap constrains all workspaces, and a workspace cap cannot exceed the organization cap; do not change only one place.

3. Gateway top-up: domestic payment and calls

If the team has no overseas payment method, or wants to consolidate several models into one RMB bill, ZSQH AI Gateway is an option. The flow is usually: register, top up, create a key, and point the SDK's base_url at the gateway. For the current entry point, minimum amount, settlement time, and payment methods, refer to the checkout page.

export ZSQH_API_KEY="sk-your-key-here"

curl "https://ai.zhongshangqihang.com/v1/chat/completions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZSQH_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model":"your-model-name","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Reply with OK only"}]}'

Model names follow the model pricing page. After topping up, run one minimal request to confirm the key, model name, and balance all work before switching production traffic. Keep test and production keys separate, and set a separate quota for each project so one runaway script cannot drain the whole account.

4. How to check exchange rates, fees, and settlement time

Cross-border top-ups often lose their apparent advantage in the details. Check at least five things before paying:

  • Settlement currency: the official pricing page may switch between USD and EUR, but the actual charge currency depends on the account and payment method.
  • Exchange-rate source: the payment provider's live rate, the card network rate, or a fixed platform rate; and whether it is locked at order time or at charge time.
  • Cross-border fees: the issuing bank may charge a currency conversion fee, and wire transfers may incur intermediary bank fees.
  • Settlement time: whether credit arrives instantly, with a delay, or after manual review; and how failed payments are returned.
  • Refund currency: whether refunds go back in the original currency or local currency, and who bears the exchange loss.

Gateway top-ups also need exchange rates and fees included in total cost, rather than comparing headline amounts. The amount due, amount credited, and refund rules shown on the checkout page are the figures you can reconcile. Avoid any channel that asks for an off-platform transfer, requests a password, or claims it can "top up at a low price."

5. Invoices and tax information

Official invoices are downloaded from the Billing page in the Admin Panel, usually as PDFs. Invoices cover plan fees, prepaid credit purchases, and usage fees; usage fees are generally billed at month end, and prepaid credit is applied first. The VAT number and billing address can be maintained in the backend and appear on later invoices; changing an issued invoice usually requires contacting official support.

For domestic enterprises using a gateway, confirm before payment:

  • Whether the invoice is a standard VAT invoice or a special VAT invoice.
  • Whether the invoice title, tax ID, address and phone, bank, and account number are complete.
  • Whether the contract, order number, payment receipt, and usage detail can be provided together.
  • How invoices are reversed on refunds and how cross-month cases are handled.

Confirm invoicing before payment; otherwise finance may have to redo booking and deduction. Teams that need domestic top-ups, consolidated billing, or multi-model access can start from the sign-up page to understand the account structure, then budget with the model pricing page.

6. Balance alerts, refunds, and risk boundaries

Official accounts support auto-recharge and organization-level and workspace-level spending caps. Insufficient balance, failed payment, or reaching the monthly cap can all suspend API access. Set two layers of protection: balance alerts for finance and spending caps for the technical owner.

Refunds differ by object. According to Mistral's official help center, subscriptions purchased on the website can be cancelled and refunded only within the legal window after the first purchase; renewals are outside that window. API prepaid credit refunds are assessed case by case and require the organization ID and receipt number; refunds usually return to the original payment method. Subscriptions bought through app stores or carriers must be refunded through that channel. Gateway top-up refunds and balance rules follow the site terms; confirm before topping up whether unused balance can be returned.

7. Enterprise procurement checklist

  • Confirm that the contracting party and the paying party are the same, so contract, invoice, and payment do not diverge.
  • Confirm settlement currency, exchange-rate basis, fees, and settlement time, and record them in the procurement notes.
  • Confirm invoice type, invoicing cycle, and refund reversal process.
  • Confirm data-use, log-retention, and sub-processor terms, especially where customer data is involved.
  • Assign a budget owner and set keys, quotas, and alerts per project.
  • Keep order numbers, payment receipts, invoices, and usage details, and reconcile monthly.
  • Never disclose account passwords, API keys, or SMS verification codes to any third party.

FAQ

After topping up, why do I still see insufficient balance or HTTP 402?

Check whether the top-up has settled, whether usage-based billing is enabled, whether the request exceeds the plan's included usage, and whether an organization or workspace monthly cap has been reached. At zero balance, overage requests may return 402 directly.

Official top-up or gateway top-up?

Teams with an overseas payment method and a need for an official contracting and invoicing entity can prioritize official top-ups; teams that need domestic payment, RMB billing, and unified multi-model management can evaluate a gateway. Compare total cost including exchange rates, fees, invoices, and operations.

Does top-up credit expire?

It depends on the platform and promotional rules. Official prepaid credit, promotional credit, and gateway balance may have different validity periods; check the current terms before topping up or purchasing.

Can I get a VAT invoice?

Official invoices are PDFs and support VAT information; invoice types and documentation requirements for a domestic gateway follow the site rules. Enterprises should confirm standard versus special VAT invoices and the reversal process before payment.

Can I get a refund if I top up by mistake?

Official subscriptions can be cancelled and refunded only within the legal window after the first purchase, and renewals are usually outside it; API balance refunds are assessed case by case. Gateway refunds follow the site terms. Keeping the receipt number and order information speeds up handling considerably.

Next step

If you need domestic top-ups, consolidated billing, or multi-model access, register for ZSQH AI Gateway, top up a small amount, run one request end to end, then estimate the monthly budget with the model pricing page. Plans, prices, and available models are governed by the pricing page.

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